Inside Kathy Bates' Career High at 69 After Cancer Battle (EXCLUSIVE)

She's one of the most well-known actresses in Hollywood, and now Kathy Bates is back and better than ever at age 69! The star is getting her career back on track after a 2012 breast cancer battle — and her hard work isn't going unnoticed by those around her.

Her director and co-star on the upcoming film Krystal, William H. Macy, gushes to Closer Weekly in an exclusive interview, "God, I adore [Kathy] and you better know what you’re doing if you’re going to work with her. Kathy’s got depth, and she’s really funny. She could play anything!"

Kathy on the red carpet for an American Horror Story viewing. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

For starters, she appeared on the third season of American Horror Story in a role that was so out of the box for her. "This little kid inside me that loves to dress up and pretend, that I thought was done for, just came to life again," Kathy once beamed. "It gave me confidence. I went through stormy seas and I’ve pulled into a beautiful harbor. I want to be here for a while."

That said, Kathy has seen and been a victim of ageism in Hollywood, but she won't let it slow down her career. "Ageism is alive and well," Kathy has said, referring to her former series Harry’s Law getting the boot five years ago. "We were canceled because they said our viewership was too old. It was a real kick in the gut."

Most recently, Kathy has appeared on Feud and Disjointed and is currently working on Moose and The Death and Life of John F. Donovan. We can't wait to see what fun projects she has up her sleeve next!

For more on Kathy, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive news!